VHS & MiniDV to Digital Transfer
Real-time tape digitizing by a working filmmaker. Mail your VHS and MiniDV tapes from anywhere in the U.S. and get them back with digital files you can keep and share.
Tape fades. Memories should not.
Magnetic tape was never meant to last. Binders break down, oxide sheds, and mold spreads in basements and attics, while the VCRs and camcorders that play these tapes get harder to find and repair every year.
Once your recordings are digital, they stop wearing out. Back them up, share them with family, and watch them on any screen.
Videolab is the tape digitizing service of Sands of Time, led by filmmaker Jon Edwards, with more than 15 years of professional experience. Every order is handled personally in Long Branch, New Jersey, for families across the Jersey Shore, Monmouth County, and the New York metro area, and by mail from anywhere in the U.S.
Why a filmmaker, not a bulk lab
Handled by the filmmaker
Jon Edwards, the filmmaker behind Sands of Time, checks in, transfers, and returns your tapes himself. They never go to an anonymous lab.
The right deck for each format
MiniDV plays on a professional Sony DSR-25 DVCAM deck and VHS on dedicated playback equipment, in real time and monitored start to finish.
Organized files, yours to keep
Files are named for easy browsing, with more detailed labeling in The Family Archive and The Heritage Edition. No cloud account, app, or subscription is required.
Direct, careful returns
You deal directly with Jon from checkout to return. Your tapes come back by tracked shipping or free local pickup.
Choose your package
Every package includes a real-time professional transfer, a quality review of every tape, a private download you keep, and your original tapes back.
Capacities are maximums, and unused capacity is not refunded. Each tape includes up to 2 hours of recorded content, with longer tapes quoted for your approval. Return shipping is $15 per order, or free scheduled pickup in Long Branch, NJ.
Media Preservation Notice. Every tape is handled with care, but aging or previously damaged recordings may experience breakage, playback interference, or incomplete transfers. We cannot guarantee full recovery or assume responsibility for deterioration-related damage.
How it works
Choose a package. Ship your tapes. We digitize them. Receive your files and original tapes back.
1. Choose your package
Count your tapes and pick the package that covers them: up to 3, 6, or 12 VHS or MiniDV tapes, with up to 2 hours of recorded content per tape.
2. Check out securely
Pay online and tell us your tape count, formats, and any notes. Choose tracked return shipping for $15 or free local pickup in Long Branch, NJ.
3. Pack and ship your tapes
Jon emails you the receiving address and a packing checklist. Pack as described below, include your order number, and ship with tracking.
4. Inspection and digitization
Jon checks in your tapes, confirms the count by email, and inspects each one before a real-time transfer and quality check.
5. Digital delivery
You receive a private download link. If your package includes a USB drive, Jon loads your files onto it and it travels back with your tapes.
6. Your tapes come home
Jon ships your originals back with tracking, or schedules a free pickup in Long Branch, NJ.
Accepted tape formats
VHS
Full-size VHS cassettes, including recordings made at SP, LP, and EP speeds.
MiniDV
The small digital tapes used by most home camcorders from the late 1990s through the 2000s.
Not sure what you have?
Call 732-492-5617 before you order. A photo of the tape and its label is usually all we need.
Formats we do not accept
We do not currently transfer VHS-C, Hi8, Video8, Digital8, Betamax, full-size DV or DVCAM, audio cassettes, or film reels. Please leave them out of your shipment. Anything sent by mistake is returned with your order.
Delivery and your original tapes
Private download link. Your files arrive through a secure link sent only to you, yours to keep with no subscription required. Download and back them up as soon as you receive the link, since links do not stay active indefinitely.
MP4 files. Each tape is delivered as an MP4 that plays on phones, computers, and smart TVs, organized and labeled according to your package.
USB drive. Included with The Family Archive and The Heritage Edition, and available with The Essentials for $50. It is mailed with your original tapes, or handed over at local pickup.
Your original tapes. Tapes are never kept, recorded over, or thrown away. They return by tracked mail for $15 per order, or by free local pickup in Long Branch, NJ, by appointment.
Packing, shipping and what to expect
How to pack. Number or name each tape to match your notes. Keep each tape in its case or wrapped in paper, and seal it in a plastic bag against moisture. Pack snugly in a sturdy box with padding on every side, and never use a padded envelope.
Identify your order. Include a note with your name, phone number, order number, and any special handling notes.
Shipping to us. You arrange and pay for tracked shipping. We do not provide prepaid labels, and we recommend insurance for irreplaceable recordings. Please wait for your receiving address email before shipping.
Turnaround. Transfers run in real time, so a two hour tape takes at least two hours to capture, plus inspection and quality checks. Timing depends on order size and our current schedule, and you receive an estimated completion date when your tapes are checked in.
Fragile or damaged tapes. Old tape can be brittle, sticky, moldy, or broken. Every tape is inspected before playback, and if one looks risky we contact you before going further. Recovery from damaged tape can never be guaranteed. Blank or unplayable tapes are handled as described in our refund policy.
Your privacy. Your recordings stay yours. They are viewed only as needed to transfer and check them, and are never shared, posted, or used in our marketing. Full terms, refund, and privacy policies are shown at checkout.
Frequently asked questions
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Count your tapes and choose the package that covers them. The Essentials is $199 for up to 3 tapes, The Family Archive is $349 for up to 6 tapes with a USB drive included, and The Heritage Edition is $599 for up to 12 tapes with a USB drive included. Your average price per tape drops as the package grows: $66.33, $58.17, and $49.92 per tape at full capacity. Capacities are maximums, so sending fewer tapes does not change the price. If you have more than 12 tapes, you can combine packages, or call 732-492-5617 and we will help you plan.
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Each tape includes up to 2 hours of recorded content. VHS tapes recorded at slower EP or SLP speeds can hold up to six hours. If a tape runs longer than 2 hours, we contact you with a quote and only charge more with your approval. Your recordings are never cut short or discarded without your permission.
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We transfer VHS and MiniDV tapes only. We do not currently accept VHS-C, Hi8, Video8, Digital8, Betamax, full-size DV or DVCAM, audio cassettes, or film. Not sure what you have? Call 732-492-5617 before you order and we will help you identify your tapes. A photo of the tape and its label is usually all we need.
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Often, yes. Please mention it in the special handling notes at checkout or call before you ship. Every tape is inspected before playback, and we contact you before attempting anything risky. Recovery from damaged tape can never be guaranteed. If a tape cannot be digitized, you can choose a refund at your package's per-tape rate ($66.33 for The Essentials, $58.17 for The Family Archive, or $49.92 for The Heritage Edition) or send a replacement tape within the same package. There is no charge for inspection or repair attempts. Full details are in our refund policy.
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Transfers happen in real time, so a two hour tape takes two hours to capture, plus inspection and quality checks. There is no shortcut without giving up quality. Turnaround depends on the size of your order and our current schedule, and you will receive an estimated completion date once your tapes are checked in.
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Each tape is delivered as a complete capture from start to finish. Nothing is cut out. The Heritage Edition includes light image and audio adjustments, such as color, exposure, and level balancing, where technically possible. These are gentle corrections, not restoration or artificial resolution enhancement. If you would like your footage edited into a finished film for an anniversary or reunion, that is separate work, and we would be glad to talk about it.
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Yes. Your recordings are viewed only as needed to transfer and quality-check them. They are never shared, posted, sold, or used in our marketing or portfolio. Files are delivered only to you through a private link. Please download and back up your files as soon as you receive them, and if you would like our working copies deleted after delivery, just ask.
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Yes. This is a mail-in service, and you can send tapes from anywhere in the U.S. After purchase, we email you the receiving address directly. You arrange and pay for shipping to us with tracking; we do not provide prepaid labels. Your originals come back by tracked shipping for a flat $15 per order to U.S. addresses, or you can choose free scheduled pickup in Long Branch, NJ, instead.
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Jon sends you a private download link with an MP4 file of each tape, organized and labeled according to your package. The files are yours to keep, with no subscription required. The Family Archive and The Heritage Edition also include a USB drive with all of your files, and you can add one to The Essentials for $50. The USB drive comes back with your original tapes.
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Jon Edwards, personally. Jon is a filmmaker, cinematographer, and photographer with more than 15 years of professional experience, and he checks in, inspects, transfers, and returns every order himself in Long Branch, New Jersey.
Ready to digitize your tapes?
Choose a package, check out securely, and we will email you everything you need to ship your tapes. Your recordings come back as digital files, along with your original tapes.
Questions? Call 732-492-5617.